International Plant Gene Pool

Genetic diversity is essential to future food production.


International plant gene pool becomes operational

Multilateral system boosts the exchange of plant genetic material

29 October 2007, Rome – A new multilateral system for the fair and equitable sharing of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture has become operational, FAO announced today.

Over the past seven months, the system has accelerated the exchange of genetic material, with more than 90 000 transfers of plant genetic material within the system.

The Multilateral System is part of the legally-binding International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture that entered into force in 2004 and has been ratified by 115 countries. Through the International Treaty, countries have agreed to make their genetic diversity and related information about the crops stored in their gene banks available to...(complete article here).

Four crops, rice, wheat, maize (corn) and potatoes account for almost 60% of the world's food. Around 150 crops feed the entire world population. A devastating event to any one of those critical crops could have profound impact on our food supply. We must protect the genetic diversity of plant species to not only have a reservoir of potential for overcoming such a disaster, but to provide the opportunity of breeding even more productive varieties to feed the growing world population.